Growth of Quercus seedlings inoculated by ectomycorrhizal fungi at an abandoned site of reforestation.

Abstract

In Japan, cleared lands where reforestation is deserted are increasing, and artificial revegetation is needed to prevent from slope failure. Soil at cleared area is acidic and infertile, and seedlings are requested to be tolerant to these factors. To examine the availability of ectomycorrhizal seedlings for the revegetation, we planted ectomycorrhizal Quercus seedlings on the cleared land in Kuma Village, Kumamoto Pref. Sixteen months after planting, seedlings of Q. glauca and Q. salicina inoculated with Astraeus hygrometricus or Scleroderma cepa showed promotion of their growth. We concluded that ectomycorrhizal Quercus seedlings were effective for the revegetation at the cleared land.